Field effect transistor having multiple pinch off voltages

ABSTRACT

A compound field effect transistor having multiple pinch-off voltages comprising: first and second field effect transistors, each field effect
         transistor comprising a semiconductor layer, the semiconductor layer having an electrically conducting layer therein; an ohmic contact layer on the semiconductor layer; a source and a drain on the ohmic contact layer; at least one gate on the semiconductor layer between source and drain; at least one gate of the first transistor and one gate of the second transistor being matched gates, each gate having the same effective thickness of electrically conducting layer beneath it but the gates having different gate lengths.

The subject patent application claims priority to and all the benefitsof United Kingdom Patent Application No. 0610683.5, which was filed onMay 31, 2006 with the UK Patent Office.

The present invention relates to a compound field effect transistorhaving multiple pinch-off voltages and a method of manufacture of such afield effect transistor. More preferably but not exclusively, thepresent invention relates to a compound field effect transistor having apair of matched gates, the matched gates each being the same effectivedistance above the bottom of the electrically conducting channel belowthe gate but having a different gate length.

Compound field effect transistors (FETs) having multiple pinch-offvoltages separating on and off states are known. Such compound FETscomprise first and second FETs on a shared support layer. Each of theFETs comprises a semiconductor substrate having an electricallyconducting channel therein. A gate sits in a recess in each substrateabove the channel. The recesses are of different depths so that thegates are different heights above the bottom of the electricallyconducting channel. The pinch-off voltages for the gates are thereforedifferent. Such a compound FET is difficult to manufacture requiringseparate steps of masking, etching and metal deposition to produce therecesses of different depths. This increases manufacturing costs andreduces yield.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a compound field effecttransistor having multiple pinch off voltages comprising:

First and second field effect transistors, each field effect transistorcomprising

-   a semiconductor layer, the semiconductor layer having an    electrically conducting layer therein;-   an ohmic contact layer on the semiconductor layer;-   a source and a drain on the ohmic contact layer;-   at least one gate on the semiconductor layer between source and    drain;-   at least one gate of the first transistor and one gate of the second    transistor being matched gates, each gate having the same effective    thickness of electrically conducting layer beneath it but the gates    having different gate lengths.

The compound field effect transistor according to the invention hasmultiple pinch-off voltages with each of the gates being the sameeffective distance above the bottom of the semiconductor channel layer.This simplifies manufacture and increases yield.

Preferably, the first and second field effect transistors share a commonsemiconductor layer.

The first and second field effect transistors can share a common ohmiccontact layer.

Preferably, the matched gates of the first and second transistors arelocated within recesses in their respective semiconductor layer.

Preferably, the recesses in the first and second semiconductor layer arethe same depth.

Preferably, one transistor is an enhancement mode transistor and onetransistor is a depletion mode transistor.

Preferably, the aspect ratio of one of the gates of the matched pair ofgates is greater than three, preferably greater than five.

Preferably, the aspect ratio of one of the gates of the matched pair ofgates is less than three, preferably greater than one.

Each of the electrically conducting layers can be GaAs.

Each of the field effect transistors can be a pHEMT.

At least one of the first and second transistors can comprise aplurality of gates. Two of the plurality of gates can have the same gatelength and can be matched with a gate on the other transistor of thecompound field effect transistor.

In an alternative aspect of the invention there is provided a fieldeffect transistor having multiple pinch-off voltages comprising:

-   a semiconductor layer having an electrically conducting layer    therein;-   an ohmic contact layer on the semiconductor layer;-   a source and drain on the ohmic contact layer;-   a plurality of gates on the semiconductor layer between source and    drain, at least two of the gates having different gate lengths.

Preferably, the plurality of gates are arranged within a recess in thesemiconductor layer.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method formanufacture of a compound field effect transistor comprising the stepsof:

-   providing first and second semiconductor layers each semiconductor    layer having an electrically conducting later therein;-   providing an ohmic contact layer on each of the semiconductor    channel layers;-   providing a source and a drain on each ohmic contact layer;-   providing a mask on the ohmic contact layers;-   providing a pattern on the mask, the pattern comprising a first via    extending through the mask to the ohmic contact layer between the    source and drain of the first transistor and a second via extending    through the mask to the ohmic contact layer between the source and    drain of the second transistor;-   etching through the ohmic contact layer to the semiconductor layer;-   depositing first and second gates on the semiconductor layers    through the vias, the vias being arranged such that the first and    second gates have different gate lengths.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of etching recesses ofthe same depth in the semiconductor layers through the first and secondvias prior to depositing the gates through the vias.

Preferably, the first and second semiconductor layers are differentparts of the same semiconductor layer.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method ofmanufacture of a field effect transistor comprising the steps of:

-   providing a semiconductor layer having an electrically conducting    layer therein;-   providing an ohmic contact layer on the semiconductor layer;-   providing a source and a drain on the ohmic layer;-   providing a mask on the ohmic contact layer;-   providing a plurality of vias extending through the mask to the    ohmic contact layer between the source and the drain;-   etching through the ohmic contact layer to the semiconductor layer;-   depositing a plurality of gates through vias on the semiconductor    layer, the vias being arranged such that at least two of the gates    have different gate lengths.

Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of etching aplurality of recesses of the same depth in the semiconductor layerthrough the vias prior to depositing the gates.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only andnot in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawingsin which

FIG. 1 shows a known compound FET having multiple pinch-off voltages;

FIG. 2 shows a compound FET according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a FET according to the invention;

FIG. 4 to 6 show steps in the manufacture of a compound FET according tothe invention.

Shown in FIG. 1 is a known compound FET 1 having a multiple pinch offvoltages. The FET 1 comprises a support layer 2. On the support layer 2are first and second FETs 3,4. Each FET 3,4 comprises a semiconductorlayer 5 having an electrically conducting layer 6 therein. On eachsemiconductor layer 5 is an ohmic contact layer 7. On each ohmic contactlayer 7 is a source 8 and a drain 9. Arranged between each source 8 anddrain 9 on the semiconductor layer 5 is a gate 10.

The two gates 10 are different heights above the electrically conductinglayer 6. Accordingly the two FETs 3,4 have different pinch-off voltages.

Each semiconductor layer 5 comprises two etch stop layers (not shown).To manufacture the compound FET 1 the semiconductor layer 5 is etcheddown to the top etch stop layer to provide a first recess 11. The topetch stop layer is then removed and the first gate 10 deposited. Asecond recess 12 is then etched down to the top etch stop layer. Theexposed top etch stop layer is removed and the recess further etcheddown to the bottom etch stop layer. The exposed part of the bottom etchstop layer is then removed and a further gate 10 deposited.

The extra steps required increases manufacturing costs and reducesyield.

Shown in FIG. 2 is a compound field effect transistor 13 according tothe invention. The FET 13 is similar to that of FIG. 1 except that thetwo recesses 11,12 in the semiconductor layer 5 are of the same depth.In contrast to the FET 1 of FIG. 1 the gates 10 are of a differentlength as shown.

The distribution of electrons in the electrically conducting layer 5beneath the gate 10 may be a complex function of the depth beneath thegate 10. The electrons could be arranged in a thin sheet beneath thegate 10 (delta doping). Alternatively, the electrons could be uniformlydistributed in a thick layer beneath the gate 10 (bulk doping). Morecomplex distributions of electrons which vary with depth beneath thegate 10 are possible. Performance of gates 10 having differentconducting layer electron distributions can however be characterised byreference to the aspect ratios of the gates 10. The aspect ratio is theratio of the gate length to the effective thickness of the electricallyconducting layer 6 beneath it. The aspect ratio can be calculatednumerically or measured experimentally. Aspect ratio and effectivethickness are known terms in the semiconductor field.

The variation of pinch-off voltage of a FET with gate length (the shortchannel effect) is known. The gates 10 of the two FETs 3,4 of thecompound FET 13 of FIG. 2 have the same electrically conducting layer 6beneath them. As they are both within recesses 11,12 of the same depththey both have the same effective electrically conducting layerthickness. The different lengths of the two gates 10 means that the twogates 10 have different aspect ratios and hence different pinch-offvoltages.

In this embodiment one of the FETs 3,4 of the compound FET 13 is anenhancement mode FET and the other FET 3,4 is a depletion mode FET, Inan alternative embodiment both FETs 3,4 are enhancement mode FETs. In afurther embodiment both FETs 3,4 are depletion mode FETs.

For this embodiment one gate 10 has a gate length of 2 micron underwhich is formed an electrically conducting layer 0.3 micron thick. Thisgate 10 has an aspect ratio of 6.7. The gate 10 of the other FET is only0.5 micron in length giving an aspect ratio of 1.7 and hence asignificantly different pinch-off voltage.

As the two recesses 11,12 are of the same depth only one gate formationstep is required in the manufacture of the compound FET 13. This reducesmanufacturing cost and increases yield.

For an aspect ratio greater than about three the pinch-off voltage ofthe gate 10 becomes substantially insensitive to the gate length.Typically, one of the gates 10 of the compound FET 13 of the inventionhas an aspect ratio in this region.

Below an aspect ratio of three the pinch-off voltage of the associatedFET becomes dependant on gate length. Accordingly, the remaining gate 10of the compound FET 13 has an aspect ratio in this region. There areother short channel effects with undesirable properties. To avoid thesethe aspect ratio of the remaining gate 10 is constructed to be largerthan unity.

The compound FET 13 of FIG. 2 has only two gates 10. If more than twopinch-off voltages are required the compound FET 13 according to theinvention could have three or possibly more FETs.

The FETs 3,4 of the compound FET 13 of FIG. 2 are pHEMTS having a GaAselectrically conducting layer 6. The underlying mechanism which is theuse of variations of pinch-off voltage with gate length can be used withall classes of FET in all semiconductors.

Shown in FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a FET 14 according to the invention.The FET 14 comprises a semiconductor layer 5 having an electricallyconducting layer 6. On the semiconductor layer 5 is an ohmic contactlayer 7. On the ohmic contact layer 7 is a source 8 and a drain 9.Between the source 8 and drain 9 is a recess 15 extending to thesemiconductor layer 5. A plurality of gates 10 are positioned within therecess 15. At least two of the gates 10 are of different lengths andconsequently have different pinch-off voltages.

In a further aspect of the invention (not shown) each of the FETs 3,4 ofthe compound FET 14 has a different electrically conducting layer 6beneath its respective gate 10. The electrically conducting layers 6 arearranged to have the same effective conducting layer thickness.

Shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is an example of a method of manufacture of acompound FET 13 according to the invention.

Firstly, a support layer 2 is provided. First and second semiconductorlayers 5 are provided on the support layer 2. Each semiconductor layer 5comprises an electrically conducting layer 6. Ohmic contact layers 7 areprovided on the semiconductor layers 5. Provided on each ohmic contactlayer 7 is a source 8 and a drain 9.

A layer of resist 16 is deposited on the ohmic contact layers 7 andslots 17 created in it (usually by photolithography). Two differentsized slots 17 are created.

Next, a shallow etch is performed through the ohmic contact layer 7 andinto the semiconductor layer 5 to produce a recess 11,12. To control thedepth an etch stop layer (not shown) is included in the semiconductorlayer 5. The cross section of the etch is shown in FIG. 5.

After etching, metal to form the gates 10 is deposited. Additional metal18 is deposited on the resist 16 as shown in FIG. 6. Finally, the resist16 is removed to form the compound FET 13 of FIG. 2.

The etching of a recess 11,12 in the semiconductor layer 5 before thedepositing of the gate 10 is not an essential step of the method. It ishowever to be preferred as it gives a compound FET with desirableproperties.

1. A compound field effect transistor having multiple pinch-off voltagescomprising: first and second field effect transistors, each field effecttransistor comprising: a semiconductor layer, the semiconductor layerhaving an electrically conducting layer therein; an ohmic contact layeron the semiconductor layer; a source and a drain on the ohmic contactlayer; and at least one gate on the semiconductor layer between thesource and the drain; the at least one gate of the first transistor andthe at least one gate of the second transistor being matched gates, eachgate having the same effective thickness of the electrically conductinglayer with each gate having different gate lengths.
 2. A compound fieldeffect transistor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and secondfield effect transistors share a common semiconductor layer.
 3. Acompound field effect transistor as claimed in claim 1, wherein thefirst and second field effect transistors share a common ohmic contactlayer.
 4. A compound field effect transistor as claimed in claim 1,wherein the matched gates of the first and second transistors arelocated within recesses in their respective semiconductor layers.
 5. Acompound field effect transistor as claimed in claim 4, wherein therecesses in the first and second semiconductor layers are the samedepth.
 6. A compound field effect transistor as claimed in claim 1,wherein one of the first and second transistors is an enhancement modetransistor and another of the first and second transistors is adepletion mode transistor.
 7. A compound field effect transistor asclaimed in claim 1, wherein an aspect ratio of one of the gates of thematched pair of gates is greater than three.
 8. A compound field effecttransistor as claimed in claim 1, wherein an aspect ratio of one of thematched pair of gates is less than three.
 9. A compound field effecttransistor as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the electricallyconducting layers is GaAs.
 10. A compound field effect transistor asclaimed in claim 1, wherein each of the field effect transistors is apHEMT.
 11. A compound field effect transistor as claimed in claim 1,wherein at least one of the first and second transistors comprises aplurality of gates.
 12. A compound field effect transistor as claimed inclaim 11, wherein two of the plurality of gates of one of thetransistors have the same gate length and are matched with a gate on theother transistor of the compound field effect transistor.
 13. A fieldeffect transistor having multiple pinch-off voltages comprising: asemiconductor layer having an electrically conducting layer therein; anohmic contact layer on the semiconductor layer; a source and a drain onthe ohmic contact layer; and a plurality of gates on the semiconductorlayer between the source and the drain, at least two of the gates beingmatched gates, having the same effective thickness of the electricallyconducting layer and having different gate lengths.
 14. A field effecttransistor as claimed in claim 13, wherein the plurality of gates arearranged within a recess in the semiconductor layer.
 15. A compoundfield effect transistor as claimed in claim 7, wherein an aspect ratioof one of the gates of the matched pair of gates is greater than five.16. A compound field effect transistor as claimed in claim 8, wherein anaspect ratio of one of the matched pair of gates is between one andthree.